A man in his 50s and his nephew and niece, in their 30s, were arrested in Lake Gardens on Saturday on charges of attempting to murder one of their neighbours by stabbing him.

Ritesh Banik, in his 40s, was admitted to AMRI Hospital-Dhakuria. He underwent a surgery early on Sunday, a hospital official said. He is on ventilator support and under observation, the official said.

Dipak Biswas, Priyanka Biswas, 32, and Anirban Biswas, 30, have been remanded in police custody, an officer of Charu Market police station said.

The apparent trigger was an argument over people chatting loudly outside the Biswas’ house, police said.

The family is opposed to this and Dipak Biswas had arguments with neighbours in the past, too, according to people of the area.

Residents went on the rampage and ransacked the house after Banik was stabbed, the police said.

Biswas’s sister-in-law Bela alleged humiliating comments by some people of the area led to an argument. “My son Anirban was angry. My daughter Priyanka and he went out to have a word with the people... I could hear both sides arguing. All of a sudden my brother-in-law stormed out and stabbed Banik with a knife.... I don’t know why he did that.”

Shyamal Chakraborty, who lives in the area, said while the argument was on, Dipak Biswas stabbed Banik.

Bela Biswas said her daughter worked in a private company after graduating in commerce and son was taking his CA exams. “None of my children is like this. They have studied hard and want to live a normal life.”